In Africa, creation myths have been a great way to explain how the world and man were made. Running the length and breadth of the continent, some different myths like the Zulu, Igbo, Yoruba, and Oromo explanations have continued to dazzle many.

10 African Creation Myths

1. Shona Myth of Creation

The Shona people of Zimbabwe believe that a supreme god called Mwari first made man whom he called ‘Mwedzi’, which translates ‘to the moon’. He then created a woman whom he gave the name Hweva, which means morning star. He gave Hweva to Mwedzi as a wife with the instruction that she would return to heaven after two years of living with the man.

One night Mwedzi and his wife got intimate, and by morning, her stomach was swollen. She gave birth to vegetation of all kinds. After her two years were over, she went back to heaven.

Mwari then sent another woman to the man named ‘Vhenekeratsvimborume’ which means ‘evening star’, to be the man’s wife for another two years. Mwedzi got intimate with his new wife and just like the first, she got pregnant but unlike the first, she gave birth to cattle, goats, and sheep of all kinds. Later, that morning, she gave birth to boys and girls.

After her two years were up, and she was set to return to heaven, Mwedzi got intimate with her again, and this time, she gave birth to wild animals like lions, leopards, snakes, and scorpions. Mwedzi then became king of the earth.

2. Zulu Myth of Creation

The Zulu people of South Africa believe that in the beginning, the earth was as lifeless as a rock, but in the darkness, there was a god called ‘Umvelinqangi’. His voice was like thunder and when he got angry, he would cause earthquakes.

‘Umvelinqangi’ created a tiny seed that he sent to Earth. The seed sprouted and became the very first form of life on earth. The seed produced reeds which fell on the soil and grew into more reeds and continued until it covered a massive swamp, which he named Uthlanga.

One of the reeds grew into a man which was named ‘Unkulunkulu’. He is known as the first ancestor and the great one. As he walked through the Uthlanga, he saw more people sprouting from reeds. These people were the first humans to walk the face of the earth. They spread across the earth and journeyed south of Uthlanga to the lands they inhabit today.

The great one continued walking among the reed and found animals growing from them. He picked the fish and flung them into the water, birds, and antelopes into the wild, and picked cattle to be used by humans. Similarly, plucked a ball of fire and a glowing stone, which he flung into the sky; that was how the sun and moon emerged.

He also plucked spirits, both good and bad. One was the snake-like goddess of the rivers, Mamlambo, who caused people to drown, and she would eat their faces and suck out their brains. Another, is Mbaba Mwana Waresa, a beautiful goddess. She created rain, and rainbows and invented farming. She was said to be the one who gifted the Zulu people the gift of beer.

After all this, the great one plucked a chameleon and sent it to the humans that men must not die but the chameleon was slow and the lizard was faster and he gave the wrong message by saying men must die, which marked the emergence of death in the world. It is for this reason that chameleons change their color because they still feel ashamed that their ancestor caused death due to their slow nature.

3. Ashanti Myth of Creation

According to these people, a man and a woman came down from heaven, while another set of men and women came from the ground. The god also sent a python which made its home in the river.

At the time, the men and women on earth knew nothing about procreation, hence they had no children. The python approached them and asked if they had children and after they told him they had none, he promised to make the women conceive.

He asked the men and the women to stand facing each other and then he went into the river and came out with his mouth full of water which he sprayed on their stomachs saying the words “Kus Kus”. He then asked them to go to their homes and lie together. The women conceived and bore children.

As a way of showing gratitude to the python, the descendants of the men and women took the python which is the spirit of the river, as their clan spirit, and to this day, killing or harming it is a taboo, and when it dies, they bury it humanly.

4. Igbo Myth of Creation

The Igbo people of Nigeria believed that at the beginning of the world, all gods and goddesses lived together in heaven, along with the Supreme Being, Chineke. These gods and goddesses became greedy and there was a power tussle between them. It became a problem for Chineke that he had to come up with a plan.

He divided heaven into equal parts among the gods and goddesses. The god who received the sky was called Igwe, while the goddess who received the land was called Ala. The duo came together and created human beings in their image. They used 4 kinds of materials for this creation. Sticks from the Ofor trees as bones, clay, chalk as flesh, and Umune leaves for the five senses and sexuality. They created eight people in total, 4 males and 4 females

They also educated them on the cycles of life. Ala and the women went to Ala’s garden and gathered food while Igwe and the men went to his garden to gather more food. Ala prepares the food gathered from her and Igwe’s garden for a ceremony.

The humans were gathered and brought together and were taught that the contribution of the energy of life and the creation of mankind was done by Igwe while Ala made the rules of morality.

Ala and Igwe invited the other gods, Amadioha (the god of thunder and lightning) Anyanwu (the sun god) Ekwensu (the trickster god), and Onwa (the goddess of the moon). This marked the beginning of human existence as the four men and four women went ahead to get married and create families.

5. Berber Myth of Creation

These people believe that at the beginning of time, there was one man and one woman who lived under the earth. They were oblivious to their differences, until one day when they argued while at a drinking well and the man pushed the woman.

When she fell, her dress rose and she was exposed. The man saw that what was under her garments was different from what was beneath his. This made him curious, and she told him that it represented well. He then stayed with her for eight nights. After these eight nights, they gave birth to 50 sons and 50 daughters.

Overwhelmed by their number of children, they sent their children above the ground created mankind, and expanded on earth.

6. Oromo Myth of Creation

According to these people, in the beginning, there was just one male called Waaqa, who was the god of the sky. He kept the vaults of heaven away from the earth and covered them with stars. Wak then made a man and asked him to build himself a coffin.

At the time, the earth was empty. He then pushed it down to the earth from the skies and rained fire for seven years until the earth’s landscape was formed. After seven years had gone by, he released the man from the coffin and took blood from him. After four days, the blood turned into a woman and the man took her as his wife.

The man and the woman gave birth to 30 children. The man was ashamed of the number of children he had, so he hid fifteen of them. Wak in return turned those hidden children into animals and demons

7. Boshongo Myth of Creation

According to these people, creation started with a god called M’Bombo. One day he fell sick and vomited in the sun. The sun was so hot that it dried up some water, leaving dry land. Still, in pain, he threw up a second time, and this time around, he vomited the moon, stars, and some animal.

After a short while, M’Bombo got sick again, and this time, he vomited some men. He named one of them Yoko Lima. The creatures he made, created others.

His 3 sons thought they could complete the creation work their father started and went to work. The first called, Nyonye Ngan, was made white but because he was not equal to the task, he died. The ants as a way of appreciating their maker buried him.

The second son, Chonganda, created a plant. It is from this plant that all other plants emerged. Chedi Bumba, the third son created a bird called the kite.

All the creations were good, except Tsetse the lightning, who caused so much trouble. This made M’Bombo chase her into the sky, without providing a means for fire. Subsequently, the god had to teach people how to create fire from trees. After the creation was completed M’Bombo looked at the people and told them the earth belonged to them.

8. Dogon Myth of Creation

They believed that Amma is the principal of all creation, he created the earth. The stars were the different body parts of the god while the constellation of Orion was Amma’s navel.

Amma then split in two and created Ogo, who represents disorder. Ogo descended to the earth in an ark, through the Milky Way. Ogo created trouble and havoc on the earth. Amma then decided to create order, which he called Nommo. He created eight assistants for him including sets of twins.

These are the first set of humans created. The assistants were brought down to earth in an ark. The ark was suspended from Heaven through a copper chain, which allowed the ark to float down to Earth, and that was how humans made their way to the Earth according to these people.

9. Tswana Myth of Creation

According to the Tswana people of southern Africa, Modimo was the creator and the distributor of good things. As much as he gave good things, he was also a destroyer when he was angry. He had the power to cause drought, hail, cyclones, and earthquakes.

When he was good, he lived in the east and was of the element of water, and when he was angry he lived in the west and was the element of fire. Modimo was also the sky and light, earth and root.

Modimo was the first and only one of his kind, with no past or future, and no ancestors.

See Also: African Mythology – 15 Myths And Legends That Will Blow Your Mind

10. Fulani Creation Myth

The Fulani who are found in many parts of West Africa have an interesting creation story based around a huge drop of milk which was there from the beginning. According to the Fulani, Doondari is the creator and he made the world from milk. It was from this basic material that the five basic elements, water, fire, iron, and stone were made.

Doondari is said to have created stone out of the milk. The stone then created iron, in turn, the iron created fire and fire created water. The last element created was air and it was created by water. Doondari shaped these elements into man. But this is not where it ends.

In a twist, man became so proud and this made Doondari create blindness to defeat man. but when blindness also became proud of the supreme being, Doondari created sleep to defeat blindness. Blindness also became proud and this made Doontswana dari to create worry. Like other creations, it also became so proud that Doondari created death to defeat worry. Death also became proud and this forced Doondari to descend.

Doondari then took an eternal form known as Gueno.

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Here are 10 Facts About Kenya You Didn’t Know

1. It is home to the Big Five

The big five are Lion, Leopard, Rhinoceros, Elephant, and cape buffalo. At one time, the big five were at the top of hunter’s lists and considered the most difficult African game to shoot on foot.

While their population has reduced drastically over the years, there are several places in the country where they still exist in their numbers. Examples of such places are Lake Nakuru, Ol  Pejeta Conservancy, and the Lewa Wilderness Conservancy, where there are large populations of Rhinos.

However, the country’s most famous reserve, The Masai Mara, is one place you will get to see all the Big Five.

2. The Country has the second-highest mountain in Africa

The second-highest peak in Africa after Mount Kilimanjaro and the highest in the country is Mount Kenya. It is an ancient extinct volcano that rose to a height of 5,199 meters (17,057 feet). The mountain is located in the central region of the country.

It was first explored by Sir Halford John Mackinder, Cesar Ollier, and Josef Brocherel on September 13, 1899, after 3 failed attempts that same year.

In 1949, a national park was founded to protect the region surrounding the mountain. In 1978, it was designated a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve and a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1997.

At this point, you might be wondering if the mountain got its name from the country or vice versa. Well, the country was named after the mountain and not the other way around.

3. It  is the world’s leading safari destination

One of the first things that come to mind anytime we hear the name Kenya is safari. The country offers one of the best safari experiences in the world.

Some of the famous safaris to visit in Kenya include the Sarara Camp, Kicheche Bush Camp, Asilia Rekero Camp, Lewa House, Lengishu House, and Segara Retreat. These are just a few of the numerous safari experiences in the country.

Most of these safaris are family-friendly and budget-friendly. Travelers are also privileged to see the Big Five. Kenya was recognized as the world’s leading safari destination in 2021, a position it has held for 7 years. So if you’re wondering where to go for your next vacation, this is the sign you need to visit Kenya.

4. Education is free

One of the major problems in Africa is affordable and quality education. In 2003, the Government of Kenya implemented the Free Primary Education policy, which allows free education for pupils of government-owned primary and secondary schools in the country. The scheme was made available to both citizens and international students.

However, this is not without challenges. Some of the challenges encountered by this development are understaffing, poor working conditions, inadequate funding, and a lack of school libraries.

5. Kenya is one of the most peaceful African countries

With the chaos in the world, This African country has managed to remain relatively peaceful over the past decades. The country has never been under a military dictatorship nor has it experienced any major conflict that could be referred to as a civil war, since its independence.

This does not mean that the country has been void of conflicts or crises. It has experienced outbreaks of communal violence which is a result of political instigation, access to water and pasture resources, land conflict, cattle raiding, and theft.

The most renowned nationwide conflict the country has experienced since independence was a series of clashes that occurred in 2007-2008, as a result of a disputed presidential election.

See Also: Kenya Beaches; These 10 Beaches are The Best in Kenya to Have a Good Time

6. Kenya has over 50 national parks and reserves

If you’ve read or heard about this African country before, its abundance of parks and reserves might not be news but how many parks and reserves can one country have?

Kenya has 22 national parks including Nairobi National Park, Meru National Park, Tsavo East National Park, and Hells Gate National Park. Similarly, the country has 28 national reserves including Buffalo Springs National Reserve, Shimba Hills National Reserve, and Shaba National Reserve.

It abundance of these national parks and reserves is to ensure the native wildlife of the country is protected against poachers and hunters.

7. There are over 60 spoken languages in the country

This African country is considered a multi-lingual country. While it has 2 major languages, Swahili and English, there are about 68 languages spoken throughout the country.

These languages are divided into three, The Bantu branch, which includes Kikuyu, Kamba, Luhya, and Gusii, The Nilotic branch, which includes Dholuo, Maasai, and Turkan and lastly, the Cushitic branch, which includes Oromo, Borana, Orma, and Somali.

Other minor languages that are not widely spoken include Rendille, Arabic, and Hindustani.

8. The world’s largest desert lake is found in Kenya

Aside from having a lot of national parks, reserves, and safaris, this East African country is also home to the largest desert lake in the world, Lake Turkana. It is the fourth largest and most saline lake in Africa.

Previously known as Lake Rudolf or Lake Jade, Lake Turkana is a vast but shallow body of water located in the Arid desert of the Kenyan Rift Valley. It stretched over 150 miles long and 20 miles wide.

Despite the country being hit by drought in recent years, lake Turkana is flooding. It is said to have swept entire villages away over the past years. Its expansion is estimated to be about 10 percent over the last decade.

9.  This East African country is home to The Great Rift Valley 

One of the most interesting facts about Kenya is the Great Rift Valley, also known as the East African Rift Valley. It was formed more than 25 million years ago by geological tension in the earth’s crust. It is approximately 6,500 kilometers long and 60 kilometers wide.

The rift lies within the boundaries of different national parks and stretches across 14 countries including Uganda, Rwanda, Ethiopia, Tanzania, Burundi, and Zambia. The lakes in the rift are shallow and have huge mineral deposits.

10. The country’s major export is Coffee

Kenya’s majority are farmers and coffee is one of the most valued exports of the country. This is because the country’s soil is unusually fertile due to the presence of an active volcano in the Great Rift Valley, which provides nutrients to the soil and enhances the flavor of the coffee.

Kenyan coffee is referred to as one of the world’s five best coffee. It is known for its rich body, high acidity, intense flavor, and delightful aroma. The coffee is exported to different countries and in May 2022, Belgium was said to be the largest Kenyan coffee market. Other products exported by the country include Tea and Flowers.

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Did You Know These Interesting Facts About DR. Congo?

1. Music is the Biggest Export of the Country

While this might sound unbelievable, Congolese music was a thing in the 90s, before the rise of Afro beats and Amapiano. Congolese music was listened to by the entire continent and was one of the most influential music forms.

The Congolese music style is called Soukous. It has influenced the music industry in the continent. The country has produced legends in the music industry, including Koffi Olomide, Papa Wemba, Awilo Longomba, Madilu System, Zaiko Langa Langa, and Werrason.

While Congolese music is not as popular as in the 90s, some musicians, including Maitre Gims, Singuila, Dadju, Damso, and Siboy, still make good music within and outside the country.

2. Its Capital City, Kinshasa, Has the Largest French Speaking Population in the World

A few years ago, Paris had the highest French-speaking population in the World. However, a recent study proves that Kinshasa, the capital city of DR. Congo, has the largest French-speaking population in the World, with over 11.1 million French speakers as against Paris’s 2,161 million. This change is due to the population growth of the capital city.

3. The Democratic Republic of Congo has a Phenomenal Wildlife

This African country is blessed with beautiful and rare wildlife. Some animals are rare and found only in the country. One of these animals is the Okapi. It is also known as the forest giraffe, the Congolese giraffe, and the zebra giraffe. The Okapi is endemic to DR. Congo. It has features of a zebra, a giraffe, and deer.

Another rare wildlife in the country is the Bonobo. It is an endangered species of chimpanzee that is considered to be man’s closest relative. The Bonobo is said to share 98.7% of their genetic codes with humans.

Besides the two animals mentioned above, DR.Congo is said to have the highest concentration of animals in the World.

Read Also: Safest Countries In Africa

4. The Country Has Experienced Violent  Conflict for over 2 Decade

Civil wars have plagued the Democratic Republic of Congo, like most African countries. The country has two major wars, which observers called “Africa’s world wars.” During the second Congo War, the death toll was said to have risen to about 6 million people, making it the deadliest war since the Second World War.

While the civil wars have subsided, there are still conflicts that have led to a humanitarian crisis in the country. Especially the conflict between Rwandan and Congolese forces, which has led to the displacement of 262,000 people in 2022.

5. It is one of the Most Resource-Rich Countries in the World

This African country is blessed with different minerals and natural resources. It is blessed with diamonds, copper, cobalt, and tin ore. The country also has an abundance of coffee, which is the country’s major agricultural export, and oil

While it is expected that this abundance of natural resources would make the country prosperous, due to the mismanagement of these resources by the government and its frequent wars, this country is ranked one of the poorest in the World.

6. The Democratic Republic of Congo is Home to the World’s Deepest River

While many people will remember River Congo as the second-longest river in Africa, after the Nile, not many know that this river is the deepest in the World. It has a depth of 720 feet and is 1760 meters above sea level.

The river flows through the Republic of Congo, also known as Congo Brazzaville, the Central African Republic, Zambia, Angola, Cameroon, and Tanzania. It is the only major river to cross the equator twice. The country is named after this famous river.

7. The Country has 8 Active Volcanoes

2 of Africa’s most active volcanoes are located in DR. Congo. They are the Nyamuragira and the Nyiragongo. The Nyamuragira is the most active on the continent. Between 1865 and 2011, the volcano erupted 43 times, the most recent being in  2022.

Similarly, the Nyiragongo is famous for long active lavas that appear in the summit crater. Its most recent eruption occurred in 2021. it led to the deaths of 32 people. Before then, it erupted in 2002, killing a hundred people.

Other active volcanoes in the country are May-ya-moto, Tshibinda, Karisimbi, Visoke, Mugogo, and Mikeno.

8. The Virunga National Park of the Democratic Republic Of Congo is Africa’s Most Biologically Diverse Protected Area 

The Democratic Republic of Congo is home to the Virunga  National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It is located in the center of the Albertine Rift and is recognized for its exceptional wildlife and habitat.

The World’s critically endangered mountain gorillas live in the park and the Bwindi National Park. It is estimated that there are 1000 mountain gorillas in the park alone. Additionally, the number of bird species in Virunga exceeds the total number in the U.S. and is more than 3 times that in the UK.

Similarly, it has a vast number of reptile and amphibian species. It is the only site on earth to have 3 types of great apes: the mountain gorilla, the eastern lowland gorilla, and the eastern chimpanzee.

9. The Nouabale-Ndoki National Park is the last Natural Habitat on Earth

This park is arguably the best example of an untouched natural habitat. It has never been logged and protects wildlife populations within its coffers without contact with humans, including forest elephants, western lowland gorillas, and chimpanzees.

It was created in 1993 and collaboratively managed by the Congolese government and WCS. A foundation was created in its honor in 2014 to aid in financing the park.

The Nouabale-Ndoki National Park is part of the more extensive Sangha Tri-National Forest Landscape, nominated as a world heritage site in 2012.

10. The Democratic Republic of Congo is Home to the Shortest Tribe in the World

The Pygmy tribe is an indigenous tribe that lives in the Congo rainforest. They are famous for their small body size and height size. The average Pygmy man is about 4 feet 10 inches tall, while the average woman is around 4 feet and 1 inch.

This tribe is one of the last nomadic hunter-gatherer tribes in Africa. They were seen as backward by the rest of the country and were treated as such. As a result of economic activities going on in the  Congolese rainforests, the pygmies have moved deeper into the rainforest to avoid being attacked.

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Here are 10 Places You Should Visit in Kenya

1. Mount Kenya National Park and Reserve

This park and reserve is home to the second-highest mountain in Africa, which is also what it is named after. Mount Kenyan National Park was established in 1949 and features a wide range of birds including eagles and sunbirds. The Park also has caves and snow-capped peaks, which makes exploring it so much fun.

The best time to visit is during the dry season because during the rainy seasons, the trails are more difficult and visibility is poor.

When visiting this park, make sure to come along with hiking kits because hiking is one of the numerous activities you can enjoy in this park. Also, if you enjoy camping, then this is a go-to destination for you.

2. Lake Nakuru National Park

This park is located on the floor of the Great Rift Valley and is surrounded by beautiful grassland and scenery. It was created in 1961 around Lake Nakuru.

This spot is best known for having thousands of flamingos nesting along its shores. It also houses a host of bird species including the African fish eagle, Goliath heron, hamerkop, and Verreaux eagle. Aside from its unique collection of birds, it is also home to a variety of animals including Rhinos, lions, and Zebras.

This beautiful wildlife haven is ideal for bird-watching, hiking, picnics, and long walks.

3. The Maasai Mara National Reserve

Commonly referred to as “The Mara”, Maasai Mara National Park is a national game reserve located in Narok Couty, southwest of Kenya. This park boasts of being one of Africa’s greatest wildlife reserves.

Housing Africa’s “Big Five”, the resort is one of the largest in the world which is known for its annual wildebeest migration, one of the most spectacular natural events in the world.

There is a wide range of activities to be done in this reserve. One of which is the safari game drive. This is a classic safari experience that allows visitors the opportunity to come face-to-face with nature and the beauty it offers.

Other activities that can be done in this tourist site include exploring the savannah on foot, hot air balloon safaris, visiting the locals, horseback safari, witnessing the wildebeest migration, and exploring photography skills.

4. Amboseli National Park

Formerly Maasai Amboseli Game Reserve, this national park is located in Kajiado County. It is one of the largest parks in the country which was established as a reserve in 1906 and later turned into a national park in 1974.

Amboseli National Park is one of the best places to come extremely close to free-ranging elephants, it is also known as the home of the African Elephant. Aside from elephants, there are five different habitats to explore including wetlands with sulfur springs, the dried-up Lake Amboseli, the savannah, and the woodlands.

This park has views of the highest mountain in Africa, Mount Kilimanjaro, in Tanzania. Another reason to visit this park is that you can visit the Maasai community which lives close to the park and experience the undiluted culture.

See Also: 10 Safest African Countries In 2023

5. Karen Blixen Museum

Located at the foot of the Ngong Hills, the Karen Blixen Museum offers an insight into the life of Karen Blixen, a Danish author who lived in the area in the early 1900s. After she died in 1962, the house was donated to the Keyan government by their Danish counterparts as an independence gift and to immortalize Karen, the museum was named after her.

It is a beautiful farmhouse, surrounded by a tranquil garden and an indigenous forest. Items that were used by the Danish author have been maintained to serve as exhibits in the museum. There is also a museum shop where tourists can get a wide range of gift items including postcards, posters, books, and mementos.

6. David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust 

While this is not a museum or a park, it is a must-visit for tourists. The David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust is an orphan elephant rescue and wildlife rehabilitation center located in Nairobi, Kenya. It was established in 1977 by Dame Daphne Sheldrick, in honor of her late husband, David Sheldrick.

The organization travels all through the country and rescues orphaned elephants, black rhinos, giraffes, hippos, and white rhinos. They also offer adoption for elephants. Visitors are allowed to get up close with the animals.

So if you have been wanting to get an elephant for yourself, David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust is your one-stop destination.

7. Hell’s Gate National Park

While the name might sound scary, Hell’s Gate Park is one of the must-visit destinations for nature lovers. It is located on the south of Lake Naivasha in the Great Rift Valley. Hell’s Gate National Park was established in 1984 and is named after a narrow break in the cliffs of the Rift Valley.

Although one of the smallest parks in the area, it is filled with beautiful sceneries of towering cliffs, water-gouged gorges, star rock towers, and scrub-clad volcanoes. It is an ideal destination for a day’s trip away from the hustle and bustle of Nairobi.

Activities that can be enjoyed in this national park include mountain biking, rock climbing, and a view of beautiful wildlife.

8. Nairobi National Museum

This museum was founded in 1910 as the Natural History Museum of Kenya, it was then renamed Coryndon Museum in 1930. After the country got its independence, it was again renamed. This time around, it was named the National Museum of Kenya. It was then closed for renovation and reopened in 2008 as Nairobi National Museum.

This tourist destination houses a lot of artifacts that are relevant to the history of the country. It has different galleries which are The Story of Mammals, The History of Kenya, Cycles of Life Gallery, Numismatic Exhibition, and Asian African Heritage Gallery.

Each of these galleries interprets the country’s rich heritage. It also has shopping facilities where visitors can buy some souvenirs unique only to Kenyan culture. There is also a provision for night tours on request for a group of at least 10 people.

Other attractions in the compound include a snake park and botanical gardens.

9. Karura Forest

This is a nature lover’s dream. The Karura Forest Reserve is located on the outskirts of Nairobi. It was gazetted in 1932 and managed by the Kenya Forest Service and the Friends of Karura Forest Community Forest Association.

The forest offers a getaway from the hustle and bustle of the city and a quiet time with the greenery and nature. It is the perfect spot to retreat and reset while walking and communing with nature. Activities that can be enjoyed in this forest include dog walking, Trail biking, picnics, and Tennis.

Book lovers can also visit this forest with their favorite books and enjoy a read together with the beauty of nature. The forest offers different types of tours. They are General, specialized, and exclusive VIP tours. The forest also has a plant nursery, where visitors can buy their favorite plants.

There’s no better way to commune with nature while in Kenya, than visiting this beautiful first reserve.

10. Malindi Beaches

This is a perfect vacation spot and one of the best places to visit in Kenya. It is located in Kilifi County. Malindi beaches speak class, elegance, and style. It has a wide range of resorts and hotels for tourists to choose from.

Some of the tourist attractions in Malindi include Turtle Bay, Che Shale Beach, The Malindi and Watamu National Parks, Gedi Ruins, and Marafa Hell’s Kitchen all located in Malindi town.

Want to travel for a honeymoon or get away with a significant other, look no further, Malindi Beach is the ideal location.

The post 10 Best Places To Visit In Kenya appeared first on WeAfrique.

Among them is Sonni Ali Ber of the Songhai Empire, who is known for a series of conquests. Ranavalona I resisted Western imperialism, and the list goes on. Sit back as we take you on an interesting ride through the lives of these men and women who demonstrated courage, bravery, and exceptional leadership skills.

10. Sonni Ali Ber

Sonni Ali Ber, a great African king who ruled the Songhai Empire from 1464 to 1492, transformed the empire through a series of conquests. He was the first king of the empire to defeat the Mali Empire, making it part of his own. He also defeated and captured the fortified cities of Timbuktu and Djenne, as well as the Mossi, Dogon, and Tuareg peoples.

This African monarch is remembered as a great magician. Instead of following the Islamic religion of the Mali Empire, he allowed the practice of both Islam and African traditional religion in his empire. However, Islamic chroniclers portrayed Sonni as a tyrant.

During his reign, the Songhai Empire experienced a great increase in power and wealth, surpassing the great Mali Empire. Sonni Ali Ber died on November 6, 1492, after drowning while crossing the Niger River. Other sources report that he was killed by his nephew, Askia Muhammad Toure. He was succeeded by his son, Sunni Baru.

9. Ranavalona I 

This African queen, also known as the Mad Queen of Madagascar, was born in 1788 as Ramavo into a very humble background. Her father heard of a plot to kill the future king, Radama, and reported it to him. In return, the king adopted Ramavo and arranged for her to marry his son, the future king.

She became the first of his 12 wives. However, the couple did not give birth to any children by the time Radama died, so there was no heir to the throne.

The throne of Madagascar was then designed to be handed over to Radama’s nephew, Prince Rakotobe. However, tradition stated that any child Ranavalona bore, whether for him or not, would be considered his and would automatically become the heir. To retain his throne, Rakotobe plotted to kill Ranavalona, but she found out and decided to act swiftly.

Before Radama’s death, he had been open to Western influence by allowing Christian missionaries to set up schools and even sending some of his children to these schools. Ranavalona then aligned herself with religious and traditional leaders. She mobilized a group of military men from her hometown and occupied the palace. The kingmakers were given a choice to either accept Ranavalona as queen or suffer the consequences. She was declared queen on August 1, 1828.

During her reign, she undid most of her husband’s reforms and terminated trade agreements with the French and English. Those who resisted her rule were fed a poisonous nut called Tangena that was used to test a person’s loyalty. Sometimes, these rebels were tortured and mutilated.

Other tribes apart from hers also suffered under her rule. She abolished Christianity in her kingdom and killed all those who disobeyed her order. This queen is said to have killed between 30 and 50 percent of the entire population during her reign.

She became very rich and was considered the ruler favored by the gods. Although she was known for cruelty, tyranny, and xenophobia, she protected her people from European encroachment. She is also known as “Ranavalona the Cruel.”

8. Askia Muhammad I

Muhammad Toure also known as Askia the Great is the most renowned ruler of the Songhai Empire. He was the chief minister to Sonni Ali. Askia deposed Sonni Baru, Sonni Ali’s son who succeeded him after his death. He violated the succession mode of the empire because he was not from a royal lineage.

Under his rule, the Songhai Empire expanded rapidly. It incorporated modern-day Kano state in Nigeria. He made all former territories of the Mali Empire pay tributes to Songhai. Askia the Great also introduced policies that increased the empire’s trade with Europe and Asia. He established standardized trade measures and regulations and initiated the policing of trade routes and an organized tax system.

He expanded Islam in his territories, created Islamic schools, made it an integral part of the empire, and replaced Songhai administrators with Arab Muslims. The period of his reign was marked by a love for war and respect for Islam, which is why Islamic scholars consider him the greatest king of the empire.

He was deposed by his son Askia Musa in 1528 and died in 1538 at the age of 96.

7. Hatshepsut

This African queen is known to be the most powerful female pharaoh in Egypt’s history. She was born around 1504BC, to Pharaoh Thutmose I, who died without a son. She then married her half-brother Thutmose II and helped him become pharaoh. After his death, her stepson, Thutmose III who was just 3 years old at the time, became king.

Hatshepsut ruled Egypt in his name. By the time he was 8, she took the throne and named herself his co-ruler. This was said to be due to brewing plots to overthrow the young pharaoh. The both of them would rule together for the next 22 years.

This African queen brought great wealth and prosperity to Egypt. She sponsored one of the empire’s most successful trading expeditions, bringing back gold, ebony, and incense from Punt.

Some of her legacies including 100-foot-tall obelisks in the great temple complex at Karnak are still standing in Egypt to this day. She also built the mortuary temple of Deir el Bahri, where she was buried after she died in 1458 BC.

Although early depictions of her were feminine, they began to take a masculine feel along the line. She was sometimes depicted in the traditional garment of the male ruler of Egypt. By the end of her reign, she had dropped all feminine titles and picked up the masculine version of her name, Hatshepu. However, she was referenced by historians as a woman with the title “Daughter of Re” or “His Majesty Herself”.

6. Idris Alooma

Idris Ali, posthumously named Idris Alooma was the greatest ruler of the Kanem-Bornu Empire of West Africa. He was an outstanding statesman and during his reign as Mai, the empire reached the zenith of its power. Idris Alooma built his palace in Gambaru against the capital city of Ngazargamu.

He was a skilled military man, who fought and conquered his adversaries which included the Hausa to the west, Tuareg and Toubou to the north, and the Bulala to the east. He was said to have won 330 wars and more than a thousand battles.

Mai Idris Alooma expanded the empire’s military. He introduced the iron-helmeted musketeers who were trained by the Ottoman military. This African king had strong diplomacy with different kingdoms. He signed the first recorded treaty in the empire’s history.

The Mai introduced a wide range of legal and institutional reforms. He funded the building of several mosques, made a pilgrimage to Mecca, and arranged for the establishment of a hostel to be used by the pilgrims from his empire. He introduced Islamic learning in the empire and improved the navigation of the Yobe River.

The ruler also introduced a larger number of camels for transportation. The capital city of his Empire became one of the largest cities in Africa during his reign.

5. Queen Moremi

Moremi, a legendary Yoruba queen and folk heroine, was born in the 12th century in a village called Offa, in present-day Kwara State, Nigeria. She was the wife of Oranmiyan, the son of Oduduwa, the founder of the Yoruba people of West Africa.

At the time, the Yoruba people were at war with an adjoining tribe known as the Ugbo. The people of Ile-Ife were furious about the Ugbo’s attacks, but they did not know what to do about it because they believed the invaders were not human.

To deal with the problem, Moremi pledged a huge sacrifice to the spirit of the river, Esimirin, if it gave her strength and wisdom on how to help her people. Esimirin agreed, and Moremi then offered herself to be captured by the Ugbo people and was taken to their land.

With Esimirin’s help, Moremi found favor in the sight of the Ugbo king and eventually became his wife. During her stay there, she familiarized herself with the secrets of the Ugbo army. When she had learned enough, she fled back to Ile-Ife and revealed the secrets to her people.

This helped the people of Ile-Ife to defeat the Ugbo people in battle. After the war was over, Moremi returned to her husband, Oranmiyan, who reinstated her as queen.

To fulfill her promise to Esimirin, Moremi sacrificed her son, Oluorogbo. This was a difficult decision, but Moremi knew that it was necessary to protect her people.

Today, Moremi is revered by the Yoruba people for her bravery and selflessness. They celebrate the Edi Festival in her honor, and a statue of her was erected in 2017 by Oba Ogunwusi. It is the tallest statue in Nigeria and the fourth tallest in Africa.

4. Behanzin Bowelle

King Behanzin was the last independent ruler of the Kingdom of Dahomey. He was the son of Glele, the 10th king of Dahomey, and became the 11th king of the empire in 1890, after his father’s death. Kondo then changed his name to Behanzin.

Behanzin was a strong and courageous leader. He fought the Europeans when they started encroaching on his empire, which was one of the most powerful kingdoms of West Africa. During his reign, Dahomey had one of the strongest armies in the area, comprising both men and women. He skillfully led his troop of 15,000 men and 5,000 women to war.

In 1882, France declared Porto Novo, a neighboring city, a French protectorate without consulting its people. Behanzin saw this as disrespectful, and his people refused to tolerate it. After he became king in 1890, he attacked the French with rifles provided to them by the Germans, on both military and economic fronts.

Behanzin subsequently declared that the treaty signed by his father was null and void and then declared war on the French. Despite losing the war, Behanzin refused to sign a treaty making Dahomey a French colony. He was then tricked into exile in Martinique, where he died in 1906.

3. Ahebi Ugbabe

This African leader is known for being the only female king in colonial Nigeria. She was born in Enugu-Ezike as the only daughter of a farmer and palm wine tapper and his trader wife. After her father consulted a spiritualist over the series of mishaps that occurred in their family, he was told that he had offended a god and the only way out was to offer his daughter as a wife to the goddess. Ahebi fled to Igala without any handwork or education. To fend for herself, she resorted to sex work, which helped her to meet different people from different places. She learned to speak different languages including Nupe, Igala, and Pidgin English.

From the proceeds of her business, she began to trade in palm oil and horses. She became one of the most influential traders in the area, and her ability to speak different languages gave her an edge over the local traders who could only speak Igala. She also got access to British colonials.

After the colonialists invaded Enugu, with her help, she was able to court their alliance and returned home in 1918. Ahebi was made the village headman under the supervision of the Divisional Officer. She rose to a warrant chief and subsequently went back to Igala where she was crowned king.

During her reign as king, she held court cases in the palace while making money from the services she offered. She offered her palace to women who had abusive husbands and became their husbands. Ahebi married wives for herself, looked for men who had sex with these wives, and claimed paternity. She hosted a Catholic school in her palace as well.

Ahebi died in 1948; however, she had performed her funeral rites two years earlier because of fear that she might not be given a befitting burial.

2. Ewuare the Great

One of the greatest kings in Africa is Oba Ewuare, son of Oba Ohen of Benin. He was given the name Ogun at birth and took up the name Ewaure after he became king of Benin in 1440. Ewuare was crowned king after he overthrew his brother Uwaifokun, who betrayed him after being sent into exile.

As king of the empire, he brought about many reforms. He transformed it politically, socially, religiously, and economically, and the kingdom of Benin experienced prosperity. He rebuilt the kingdom, reformed its political structure, and adopted the firstborn succession system.

During his reign, he won over two hundred battles and expanded his kingdom to different towns. He facilitated trade between his kingdom and the Portuguese.

Similarly, he expanded the arts sector of the kingdom and introduced coral beads for which the Benin people are famous. He introduced several festivities to the area.

Ewuare the Great died in 1473 and was succeeded by his son Ezoti.

See Also: 10 Shocking Beauty Practices Across Africa

1. Nzinga Mbande

Also known as Nzinga of Ndongo and Matamba, this African queen ruled her kingdom between 1583 and 1663. She was born into the royal Ndongo family.

Her father, Ngola Kiluanji, allowed Nzinga and her brother, Ngola Mbandi, to witness his governance. As a result, they had an understanding of the implications of Portuguese colonialism and slavery.

Subsequently, after her brother became king, he sent Nzinga as his emissary to Luanda. There she created an impression on the governor when she refused to sit on the floor and instead called her servant to kneel on all fours and sat on him as a human chair. She converted to Christianity and was baptized. While he was away, her brother, the king, died under unknown circumstances.

Nzinga returned and claimed the throne as ruler of the kingdom after her nephew, the rightful heir, was killed, presumably by Nzinga.

During her reign as queen, Nzinga led the Mbundu army to war against the Portuguese which ended in 1647 after 30 years. She fought against the Portuguese and their expansion of slave trade in her territory.

The queen kept both male and female concubines, married multiple husbands, and insisted on being addressed as a king while wearing male clothes. Nzinga died on December 17, 1663, and was succeeded by her sister Barbara.

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Akhenaten tried to force his people to worship only one god, the sun disk Aten, while destroying the temples and statues of the other gods of ancient Egypt. He ignored the traditions and customs of his ancestors, angering the priests and the people who loved their old gods. He was a tyrant who wanted to change the whole culture and history of Egypt with his new religion.

Who Is Pharoah Akhenaten Amenhotep IV?

Akhenaten Amenhotep IV is said to be the most evil pharaoh in Egyptian history. Before we discuss why, let’s take a look at who he was and how he became pharaoh.

Akhenaten was born Amenhotep IV, the son of Pharaoh Amenhotep III and his wife, Tiye. Amenhotep IV was the younger son of the pharaoh. He had an older brother, Thutmose, who was declared heir to the throne of Egypt. Some sources report that he had four sisters, while others report that he had five.

Pharaoh Akhenaten Amenhotep IV’s older brother and heir to the Egyptian throne died before he could ascend the throne. This made Amenhotep the new heir. He ascended the throne after the death of his father and is said to have ruled Egypt between 1353 and 1336 BCE.

The emperor was married to Queen Nefertiti, who was his “Great Royal Wife.” He also had many other wives, including Kiya, his secondary wife, and had about 9-10 children.

See Also: 10 Interesting Facts About Egypt

Why is He Considered the Most Evil Pharoah Ever?

Akhenaten Amenhotep IV is referred to as the most evil pharaoh in Egypt not because he killed thousands or fought many wars, but because of his radical religious policies. Akhenaten tried to destroy the polytheistic faith and transform Egypt into a monotheistic kingdom.

At the beginning of his reign, Akhenaten followed the existing traditions of Egypt. But soon after, he began to implement his newfound ideologies in the kingdom, such as imposing the worship of one god, Aten, who was represented as a sun disk, throughout Egypt. Akhenaten is also credited with being the world’s first monotheist.

Akhenaten tried to obliterate the names and images of the other Egyptian gods. He even went as far as dispatching agents to erase the names and images of certain gods from existing texts and monuments.

Although some scholars think that Akhenaten’s religious reforms were premeditated, others claim that they were not, because Akhenaten is known to have worshipped some of the Egyptian gods, such as Atum, Osiris, Anubis, and Nekhbet, after he became king.

After imposing the worship of Aten, Akhenaten made sacrifices only to his deity rather than all the other gods and goddesses of Egypt, as was customary. He also changed the royal protocol of the kingdom to show his devotion to Aten.

To further show his commitment, Akhenaten moved the capital city of the kingdom from Thebes to a new town he created just for Aten. He named it Akhetaten, which means “Horizon of Aten.” He claimed that this was the place where Aten manifested himself for the first time and chose the site for the king alone.

Akhenaten also changed his name from Amenhotep to Akhenaten, which can be translated to “effective spirit of Aten” or “serviceable to Aten.” He became more concerned about his new religion than the progress of the kingdom, which caused the kingdom to be unprotected and susceptible to attacks from its enemies. The power of Egypt began to wane during his reign.

In addition to his religious policies, Akhenaten overhauled the royal artistic style of Egypt and implemented a form of architecture that revolved around the concepts of Atenism.

Akhenaten Amenhotep IV ruled Egypt for a total of about 17 years before his death. The circumstances surrounding his death are unclear, as is the location of his remains. The period of his reign was referred to as the Amarna period. Upon his death, he was succeeded by his wife, Nefertiti.

Some might argue that this African king was not the worst king that ever ruled the kingdom of Egypt, while others might argue that taking away a person’s freedom of worship is the worst thing that can happen to anyone, which is exactly what Amenhotep IV did.

The post Why Pharoah Akhenaten Amenhotep IV Is Considered The Most Evil Pharaoh Ever appeared first on WeAfrique.

In this article, we will be looking at 20 of the greatest African kings and queens who have ruled different parts of Africa and how their reigns impacted the territories they ruled over.

Great Kings And Queens Of Africa

1. Pharaoh Akhenaten

Although Egyptologists know very little about Akhenaten’s birthday and early life, it has been established that he was named Amenhotep at birth. Akhenaten was the son of Pharoah Amenhotep III of Egypt and his wife, Tiye and he became heir to the throne after his older brother, Thutmose died.

He ruled as Amenhotep IV until the 5th year of his reign when he changed his name to Akhenaten. Also, Akhenaten was married to Queen Nefertiti and other women, who bore him many children.

This king is famous for abandoning Egypt’s traditional polytheism and introducing a new religion known as Atenism. This religion was centered on worshiping a god called Aten, which was represented as a solar disk. Consequently, he attacked other Egyptian gods and erased the names and images from Egyptian monuments.

He also created new architectural designs and moved the capital city of Eygpt to a new site named Akhetaten. This translates to “a place where Aten becomes effective”. He further claimed that Aten manifested itself for the first time there.

Akhenaten died in the 17th year of his reign. However, the reason for his death and where he was buried have remained a mystery. It was also revealed that he was not given a royal burial.

2. Queen Amina

Also called Aminatu, Queen Amina was born to King Nikatau, the 22nd King of Zazzau, and his wife, Queen Bakwa Turunku, in the mid-16th century.

After the death of her father, her older brother, Karami, became king. During his reign, Amina led the cavalry of her Zazzau’s army and became a famous warrior princess. Subsequently, after the death of her brother in 1576, she ascended the throne of Zazzau.

During her reign as the Queen, she conquered many territories which led to the expansion of the kingdom. It was said that she built walls around all the areas she conquered, which was proof of her existence. Similarly, she introduced the production of kola nuts in the area.

Although there are plenty of discrepancies surrounding her death, many authors have stated in their writings that she passed away in Atagara, which is the modern-day Idah, Kogi State of north-central Nigeria.

The Queen exceeded the accomplishments of her predecessors. Although she did not get married, it was revealed that she took slave husbands from villages she conquered and executed them afterward. In recent times, the matriarch is a symbol of the strength of a woman.

3. Menelik II

Menelik II, one of the greatest African kings, was born in 1844, in Ankober, Shewa, Ethiopia. His father, Haile Malakot, was the king of Shewa. Menelik II got baptized and took the name Sahle Mariam.

Shortly before the death of his father, Menelik was taken as a prisoner by Emperor Tewodros II. While in captivity, he continued to receive an education and would later marry one of the Emperor’s daughters.

He escaped captivity and returned to Shewa and claimed his throne as the king in 1865. However, he had a bigger ambition, which was to become the emperor of the entire Ethiopia and not just a small village. In order to achieve that, he pledged his loyalty to Emperor Yohanes IV.

Menelik was the strongest contender for the throne after the emperor died in a battle. He was crowned “negus negast” which means king of kings, on November 3, 1889, at the church of Mary, on Mount Entoto

He transformed the Ethiopian empire and defeated the Italian troops to defend the independence of his people during his reign. Subsequently, he introduced a national currency, improved the educational sector, constructed a railway from Djibouti to the new Ethiopian capital, Adis Ababa, and established the first telephone and telegraph systems in the Empire.

The emperor suffered a stroke in 1909, after which his wife, Queen Taytu, ascended the throne. Unfortunately, the Emperor did not recover, as he died a few years later, on December 12, 1913. He was buried without any announcement or ceremony in the Imperial Palace. In 1916, he was reburied in a Ba’eta Le Mariam Monastery, Adis Ababa, which was specifically for him.

4. Kadanke Amanirenas

Also known as the “one-eyed queen”, Amanirenas was born between 60 and 50 BCE. She ruled the Ancient Kingdom of Kush between 40-10 BCE and is the second of the 8 Kandankes of the Kingdom of Kush.

Amanirenas is famous for defending her kingdom against the Roman Empire. She defaced the statue of Ceasar Augustus by removing its head and burying it at the entrance of her palace.

The Kadane was not intimidated by the weapons the Romans had, she gave the Roman Emperor, Augustus, an ultimatum. She sent him arrows with the message “If you want peace, they are a token of warmth and friendship. If you want war, you’ll need them”.

Augustus submitted to the demand of the queen even though he considered her message to be an insult. He withdrew Roman control from all the Kushite territories that had been conquered. The two empires signed a peace treaty in 22 BCE. Amanirenas died in 10 BCE.

5. Oba Oduduwa

Oduduwa is revered by the Yoruba people of West Africa not just as a ruler, but as a god. He is believed to be the founder of this widespread ethnic group. While some believed that he came to earth through a mythical chain in the 12th century and settled in Ile Ife, others believed he was sent by Olodumare, the lord of the skies, to fulfill a mission his brother, Obatala was unable to complete.

His name Oduduwa translates to “the great repository which brings forth existence”. He was the Olofin of Ile Ife and ruled the city for a few years. However, he never bore the title of the Ooni of Ife nor used the Ife traditional crown.

Unfortunately, Oduduwa was killed during a leadership contest between Obatala, Orunmila, and Owa Ilare. His death led to the dispersal of his children and grandchildren to different territories where they became founders. One of these territories is the great Benin Empire founded by his grandson, Prince Oranmiyan. Another of his grandsons became the first Alaafin of Oyo.

In the Yoruba culture, Oduduwa is a symbol of life or the power of the womb. He also represents the omnipotence and the values of the culture.

6. Makeda

The Queen of Sheba is one of the queens recorded in the Bible. She was also known as Queen Sheba, Queen of Saba, and Queen Belqis. She became the Queen of Axum after winning the battle against the serpent king, Arwe, who had troubled the northern Ethiopian Kingdom.

Queen Makeda of Sheba was one of the women of Solomon, King of Isreal’s life. It was recorded that she traveled all the way to bring gifts to King Solomon. Afterward, she bore him a son, Menelik I, who would become the first imperial leader of Ethiopia and the first of the lineage of Aksumite kings.

Although her existence is disputed among historians, she is identified by modern historians with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. She is believed to be the first African Queen to rule in 960 BC, and through her, a lineage of East African and Nubian Kings emerged.

7. Mansa Musa

Mansa Musa is arguably one of the greatest kings to have ruled Africa. He ruled the Mali Kingdom from 1312 to 1337. His territory cut across present-day Mali, Nigeria, Senegal, Chad, The Gambia, Niger, Guinea, Mauritania, and Burkina Faso.

The already flourishing Mali Kingdom blossomed even more during his reign. At the empire’s peak, Mansa became the wealthiest man to have ever lived.

His wealth and greatness were recorded by the Europeans and the Egyptians. He built the economy of the empire by trading in gold, salt, and ivory among other things.  With the money he got from trading, Mansa Musa funded the education, architectural, and art sectors of the Mali Empire.

The great King Mansa died in 1337 and was succeeded by his son, who could not handle the great empire left in his care. That led to the fall of the Great Mali Empire.

8. Yaa Asantewaa

This African Queen was born to Kwaku Ampoma and Ata Po, in Besease, in 1840. She was known as an intellectual, activist, and queen mother.

Yaa Asantewaa fought alongside her people against British colonialism in 1900. The war is also known as the Yaa Asantewaa War of Independence.

Sadly, she died after being exiled to Seychelles in 1921. She was considered a hero for not giving up the royal golden stool, which symbolizes the authority of the King, the soul of the nation, and the unity of the Asante people.

She is remembered for her active participation in the liberation of her people, which led to the territory becoming the first African nation in sub-Saharan Africa to gain independence from British colonialism.

9. Shaka Zulu

The founder of the Zulu empire was born to the chief of Zulu sometime in 1787. There were many controversies surrounding his birth because at the time, his parents were not married and their relationship was considered an abomination.

The complexities of their relationship led to his father denying the paternity but later accepting it. When Shaka was 6, his parents separated and he grew up with his mother; making him experience a terrible childhood. He was always referred to as a bastard. However, he did not allow the unfortunate events in his life to deter him.

He learned under the mentorship of the leader of another clan, Dingiswayo, whom he served.  Digiswayo helped him take over the throne of Zulu from his brother in a coup, after the death of his father.

His reign was characterized by brutality and military expansion. After the death of Dingiswayo, Shaka Zulu took control of the surrounding territories and became the most powerful and influential ruler in the area. This led to the formation of the Zulu Kingdom.

After the death of his mother, he ordered that no crops should be planted for a year. Similarly, no milk should be used for the year, he also ordered the execution of pregnant women in the area. He murdered as many as 7000 people as a way of grieving. This led to his assassination by his half-brothers in 1828. He was buried in an unmarked grave

See Also: Greatest African Kings: Ewuare the Great

10. Queen Nefertiti

Nefertiti whose name means “a beautiful woman has come”, was the wife of Akhenaten, the Pharoah of Egypt. According to some sources, she is the daughter or niece of a high chief called Ay, from a town called Akhmim. Other sources suggest she was a princess of the Mittani Kingdom in Syria.

She ruled Eygpt alongside her husband and subsequently, after his death. She became very wealthy as she saw the expansions of the kingdom. The Queen changed her name to Neferneferuaten-Nefertiti which means “beautiful are the beauties of Aten, a beautiful woman has come”.

During her reign as Queen, she consolidated the developments made by her husband.

Today, Nefertiti is the ideal symbol of beauty and feminine power. The bust of Nefertiti is one of the icons of Ancient Egypt. She was known for many titles, some of which include Hereditary Princess, Great of Praises, Lady of Grace, Sweet of Love, Main King’s Wife, and Lady of all Women.

The post 10 Great Kings And Queens Of Africa appeared first on WeAfrique.

This article will look at some of the greatest lies that have been told about Africa and Africans by the Europeans.

5 Greatest Lies Told About Africa

1. Africans Sold Their Own During Slave Trade

This is a common misconception about Africans. Although Africans share the same skin color, they do not identify themselves with that, instead, they identify with people with whom they share the same language or culture. That is what this means when it is argued that Africans never sold their own.

Africans never sold people they shared the same language or culture with. Most slaves sold by Africans into slavery were prisoners of war or kidnapped people from neighboring cities or political enemies.

Before the emergence of the trans-Atlantic slave trade, Africans were already buying and selling slaves and these slaves were used on farms and in their homes. The trade grew at the time when Africans were constantly at war with each other, taking prisoners and exchanging them for weapons.

The pawnshop was a common practice in West Africa before the coming of the Europeans. This is also known as debt or bondage slavery. It involved the use of people as collateral for a debt. After the introduction of the slave trade into the continent, these pawns were then sold to the Europeans.

The people who did the exchange did not know the level of brutality and inhumanity of the treatment these slaves got from their slave masters across the Atlantic. If they did, the trade wouldn’t have lasted as long as it did.

See Also: 10 African Slaves Who Became Legendary

2. Africa is a Dark Continent

The term “Dark Continent” was coined by Welsh explorer, Henry Morton Stanley after he named his book about his exploration of Africa, “Through the Dark Continent”. Over time, many people used the term to describe the continent.

Although there are different ways the above statement can be translated, while some see it as talking about skin color, we will be seeing it from the angle of Africa having no notable history before the coming of the white people.

Interestingly, anthropologists and modern science have confirmed that Africans are the oldest race in the world, it has also been proven that Africa had functioning systems before the coming of the Europeans. These ancient civilizations spread across the Maghreb and the Sahel. Some of these precolonial states include Kemet, Ajuran Empire, Bachwezi Empire, Buganda Kingdom, and Dagbon Kingdom.

The existence of these civilizations has been backed by findings of archeologists and anthropologists which prove they existed even before the Europeans came, which dismisses the lie that Africa had no history before the coming of the white people.

Today the continent can be referred to as the cradle of civilization and humanity.

3. Egypt is the Oldest Civilization in Africa

While it is an early and one of the oldest civilizations in Africa, Egypt is not the oldest civilization in Africa. The oldest civilization in Africa is the Nubian Kingdom of Ta-seti. It existed before Ancient Egypt.

This Nubian kingdom was known as the “Land of the Bow” which was their weapon. Ta-seti became the most powerful kingdom in the Nile region during the Naqada Period of Egyptian History.

Findings suggest that the Nubians already had their Dynasty, while Egypt was unified by Narmer. This further proves that this kingdom existed before the Egyptian civilization and that it was the model for it.

Its monarchy was established before 3800 BCE, providing the template for Egyptian royalty after Upper and Lower Egypt became united under one dynasty, also known as Kemet.

Unfortunately, this kingdom was given little to no attention. Readings have been discovered beneath the sand by archeologists which include bases of pyramids, burial mounds, and tombs, which were unique to Nubia.

4. Africa Had no Military Tactics Before the Coming of the Europeans

The above statement is not only false but a total drift from actuality. Africa has one of the oldest militaries in the world. One of these was the Ancient Egyptian and Nubian armies and the Aksumite army. These armies were compared to the Roman army and other world powers during those times.

Although they did not have sophisticated weapons like the world powers, they had quite a reputation when it came to archery. It was said that they could target the eye of an opponent during a battle.

Weapons of these ancient armies ranged from simple bows and arrows to daggers, spears, and axes. The tactics of these ancient militaries include building fortresses and digging deep ditches around these ditches.

The Egyptian army was famous for its use of horse-drawn chariots in warfare, and subsequently, fighting off the invasion of Babylonians, Assyrians, and Persians.

Other armies like the Umayyads, Abbasids, Fatimids, Mamluks, and Ottomans consolidated the strength of North Africa. Similarly, Ethiopian soldiers defeated the Italians at the Battle of Adwa, during the first Italo-Ethiopian wars without having weapons as sophisticated as that of their enemies.

Similarly, the Zulu army was known for its extremely good warriors, who performed with utmost determination in whatever kind of war and with whomever. They were also famous for using a spy system, where they had a working system for obtaining and transmitting intelligence reports from their places of posting. Their abilities in battle were recognized by the Europeans who referred to them as the “Horns and the Bulls”.

So the next time someone tells you Africa had no military tactics, ask them to read about some of the early wars fought on the continent.

5. Africans Never Sailed the Sea

It has been recorded that before the trans-Atlantic slave trade, Africans attempted to sail the Atlantic Ocean. Mansa Musa, the revered king of the Mali Empire revealed that his predecessor, Mansa Abu Bakr II, led a fleet in an attempt to sail across the Atlantic Ocean.

In 1312, Mansa Abu Bakr II equipped 2000 ships and filled them with skilled men, gold, water, and food to last for several years, but they never returned.

Mansa Musa told his story in 1324, when he was traveling to Mecca for Hajj, and stayed briefly in Cairo.

Historians state that this hypothesis could mean that Africans beat the Europeans to the Americas. Ivan Van Sertima’s thesis titled “They Came Before Columbus” cited stories told by oral historians called Griots, who claimed that Mansa Abu Bakr II passed the throne to Mansa Mousa, before setting sail across the Atlantic.

Historians who support this theory state that the expedition was not spoken about because the Griots found the abandonment of his throne dishonorable. They believed that he might have reached the Americas. Others think that Abu Bakr II settled and established a colony in Brazil, which he named Bourne Bambouk. It was said to have been located near present-day Recife, in Pernambuco, Brazil.

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In this article, we will take a look at the Most Evil Men In Africa’s History. These people committed many atrocities against the human race and have been considered some of the evilest people Africa has ever seen.

1. Idi Amin Dada

Also known as the Butcher of Uganda, Kijambiya, or Black Hitler, Idi Amin Dada Oumee was a Ugandan dictator and warlord who served as the country’s third president. Due to the fact that he did not authorize the writing of an official account of his life, his date of birth is not known. However, he was said to have been born between 1923 to 1928.

He overthrew the Ugandan president, Milton Obote via a military coup in 1971, while he was attending a commonwealth summit in Singapore. During his reign as president of Uganda, Idi Amin earned the nickname “Butcher of Uganda” due to his brutality. It is believed that no fewer than 300,000 people including political rivals, farmers, religious leaders, and even children,  lost their lives at the time.

Additionally, this Ugandan president was accused of cannibalism. It was said that he kept the bodies of his victims in a refrigerator, from which he feasted. Similarly, he had an underground prison with a torture chamber where he ousted his victims.

This Ugandan president woke up one morning and decided he didn’t want any Asians in his country anymore, so he gave them an ultimatum of 90 days to leave the country or face his wrath. Out of fear, these Asians left everything they had, which his men then took.

Idi Amin was also known for his mood swings, he killed a lot of people, especially employees. It was said that one of his employees found out about his death on the radio after his principal had decided to kill him.

Even his wives were not exempted from his killing spree. He killed his fourth wife one year after their divorce for being disloyal to him. She was mutilated while he was four months pregnant with another man’s child.

As president, his official title was

“His Excellency, President for Life, Field Marshall, Alhaji Doctor Idi Amin Dada, VC, DSO, MC, Lord of All the Beasts of the Earth and Fishes of the Sea and Conqueror of  the British Empire in Africa in General and Uganda in Particular”

Idi Amin had 6 wives and over 40 children. he was ousted in 1978, and he fled to Saudi Arabia, where he died of multiple organ failures in 2003.

2. Jean-Bedel Bokassa

Born on 22 February 1921, this evil African leader was nicknamed “the butcher of Bangui”. He became the president of the Central African Republic on January 1, 1966. His regime was supported by the French military and economic aid.

Bokassa declared himself president for life in 1972 and began to kill anyone who opposed him. This African leader went on to declare his country an Empire and renamed it as Central African Empire. His office became the office of the Emperor and himself, Emperor Bokassa I.

His rein in CAR was characterized by brutality. He ordered that all schoolchildren purchase uniforms that were only made by the factory his wife owned. This led to protests by the schoolchildren, and in return, Bokassa ordered the arrest, imprisonment, and killing of the protesters. Over 100 children were killed.

This evil leader was also a cannibal who ate the bodies of victims of his brutality. Bodies were discovered in his freezers shortly after he was overthrown as Emperor. Some of the bodies including that of children were disemboweled and mutilated.

Bokassa ordered that thieves should lose an ear after the first two offenses, and a har for the third. He also supervised the torture of his victims and fed them to lions and crocodiles

He was overthrown in 1979 and went into exile in France. Subsequently, in the 1980s his children were arrested for shoplifting food. The overthrown president returned to the Central  African Republic in 1986 where he was tried and convicted of murder, cannibalism, assault, and treason, among other crimes. He was sentenced to life imprisonment in solitary confinement. His sentence was then reduced to 20 years, from which he was pardoned in 1993. Bokassa died at the age of 75, from a heart attack in 1996.

3. Jean Kambanda

The Rwandan genocide is infamous for the deaths of over 800,000 people, but what many do not know is who took responsibility for these deaths. Jean Kambanda is the only Rwandan leader to plead guilty for the massacre that lasted between April to July 1994.

He was born on October 19, 1955, in Huye, Rwanda. Jean became the Prime minister of Rwanda in 1994 and it was during his tenure that the infamous Rwandan genocide occurred.

The Rwandan prime minister was arrested and charged to the International Criminal Tribunal, where he was sentenced to life imprisonment for genocide, agreement to commit genocide, incitement to genocide, aiding and abetting genocide, failing to prevent genocide, and two counts of crimes against humanity.

In an appeal, he said though he confessed to being responsible, he was not guilty, and his confession was an error due to poor counsel. He was sentenced to life imprisonment  in 1998

4. Muammar Ghaddafi

This Libyan revolutionary, politician, and former president was born in 1942. He ruled Libya between 1969 to 2011. During this time, the Libyan economy blossomed. He demanded that the oil companies in Libya pay a bigger share of the revenue to the country. Gadaffi is famous for having female bodyguards.

Despite the increase, he brought to this country, he was a brutal leader, which earned him the nickname “Mad Dog of the Middle East”. He was accused of being the brain behind the bombing of the West Berlin dance clubs that killed a lot of people.

The former Libyan leader was also accused of sex crimes. It was said that he raped hundreds of teenagers in sex dungeons that were built specifically for that purpose. These sex dungeons were equipped with medical gadgets for examination for sexually transmitted diseases.

He was charged with two counts of crimes against humanity but was terminated in November 2011, after he was shot and killed by a rebel group.

See Also: 10 Shocking Beauty Practices Across Africa

5. Charles Taylor

Taylor was born in a small town near Monrovia, the capital of Liberia, on January 28, 1948. He became the president of Liberia in 1997, until his resignation in 2003.

He became one of the most powerful warlords in Africa’s history after the first Liberian civil war. Subsequently, he was in charge of the National Patriotic Front of Liberia, a revolting group that killed more than 200,000 Liberians.

Charles Taylor was accused of aiding the Revolutionary United Front with weapon sales in exchange for blood diamonds, which led to the death of over 50,000 people. Other crimes committed by this African leader included murder, mutilation, rape, and the conscription of children into the army.

Due to a lot of pressure from the international community, Charles Taylor was sentenced to 50 years in prison for different crimes, including war crimes, he committed while he was president.

6. Ahmed Sekou Toure

This African leader was born on January 9, 1922, in French Guinea. He became the first president of the independent republic of Guinea in October 1958, after serving in many unions in the country.

His tenure was characterized by human rights oppression and brutality. The fear of his wrath led a lot of indigenes of the country to flee for fear of being arrested and kept in prison camps. He executed anyone who dared oppose his government.

In 1958, he ordered the execution of 58 people for their involvement in an unsuccessful coup against his government. Toure died in March 1984, in Cleveland while undergoing treatment for cardiac issues.

7. Francisco Macias Nguema

Born on January 1, 1924, Francisco Nguema is considered one of the most brutal and evil dictators in Africa’s history. He came to office as the president of Equatorial Guinea in 1968. Nguema was the first president of the country following its independence.

He consolidated power by establishing an extreme cult system. He held anti-European speeches and killed whoever he perceived was against him, including his cabinet members and senior officials.

Nguema once ordered the killing of 186 suspected dissidents in a national stadium, while playing Mary Hopkins’ song, Those were the days. 150 of them were shot and hanged, while the remaining 36 were made to dig their graves, buried up to their necks, and eaten alive by red ants.

Nguema was rumored to have had a mental illness which was partly responsible for his action. Additionally, he was said to be an abuser of drugs and other illicit substances.

This evil leader once ordered the killing of an entire village, because of one person he thought was opposing his government. Male prisoners were beaten to death with wooden clubs, while females were subjected to sexual abuse, sometimes, in the presence of their husbands.

Nguema was executed by hired firing squad in September 1979, after his nephew Teodoro Nguema came to power via a coup. The Equatoguinean soldiers refused to shoot him after he promised that his ghost would come back and take revenge on those who killed him.

8. Joseph Rao Kony

It seems as though Uganda has had its share of evil leaders in the past. This Ugandan leader is one of the evilest men in history. He was born in 1961 and rose to become the founder and leader of the Lord’s Resistance Army, a religious group that has been designated a terrorist group by the United Nations Peacekeepers and the European Union among other international organizations.

Through his organization, Kony has been involved with the conscription of minors into the army and has been responsible for the deaths of over 100,00 and the abduction of at least 60,000 children. Other crimes committed by this evil man include sexual abuse and other crimes against humanity. He is also responsible for the displacement of over 2 million people.

Kony describes himself as a freedom fighter, fighting for the Christian faith in Uganda, but his actions seem far from it. He is currently one of the most wanted African militants and one of the most notorious warlords. He is said to have up to 60 wives and 42 children.

9. Joshua Miltton Blahyi

This African warlord is also called “General Butt Naked”. He was famous for going into battle naked wearing nothing except shoes and magic charms. But what was the logic behind that? it was revealed that at the age of 11, he was initiated as a high priest after being handed over to the elders at the age of 7.

Blahyi believed that going to battle naked made him immune to bullets. During wars, the warlord and his troops perpetrated all kinds of atrocities, including cannibalism and human sacrifices.

He claimed that he received a vision from the devil who told him he would become a great warrior and that by committing these atrocities, his powers would increase. General Butt Naked revealed that sometimes he would enter the water where children were playing, grab one and break his/her neck, other times he would cause accidents or just slaughter them, just in a bid to be more powerful. He would kill children, pluck out the heart, and eat it.

In 1996, Blahyi claimed he saw Jesus Christ who asked him to stop being a slave. With that, he converted to Christianity and became a preacher of the gospel. He confessed to the murders of at least 20,000 people after his conversion, at the Liberian Truth and Reconciliation Commission.

10. Bosco Ntaganda

This Rwandan warlord and the criminal was a former military chief of staff. He was born on November 5, 1973. He joined the Patriotic Forces for the Liberation of Congo, the military wing of the Union of Congolese Patriots, where he became its chief of military operations.

Ntaganda was involved in countless massacres, conscripting minors into the military, and other crimes against humanity Ntaganda told the underaged soldiers

When you’re a solider, you get a woman for free. Everything is free.

In 2006, he was charged with war crimes of enlisting children below the age of 15 and using them to participate in hostilities between 2002 and 2003. A warrant for his arrest was issued. However, the court ruled that circumstances had changed and unsealed the warrant.

In March, the Rwandan warlord handed himself to the US embassy in Rwanda and requested that his case should be transferred to the International Criminal Court in the Hague. He pleaded not guilty to the 18-count charge leveled against him including rape, murder, and sexual slavery.

Subsequently, he was convicted of all crimes and sentenced to 30 years imprisonment in 2019. The longest prison sentence by the ICC. It was also ruled that his victims should be compensated with $ 30 million, the highest amount ever awarded.

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Also known as witch purge, it is a practice in search of people who have been labeled witches. These practices range from forcing them to drink poison to beheading them. It is carried out by a set of people known as witch hunters, who possess some kind of power to identify witches.

10 Insane Facts About Witch Hunting in Africa

1.  Elderly Women are the Most Affected by Witch-Hunting

One might wonder why the term witch, describes a woman who is old and frail and struggling to survive. This is owed largely to the fact that witch-hunting targets the poor and most vulnerable in society.

At that stage of their lives, this set of people can barely defend themselves, the best they can get is family members who can defend them and plead their cause. But what happens when the family meant to protect and defend you is the one pointing the accusing finger? This is the case for many older women who have been labeled witches.

In Bangui, the capital city of the Central African Republic, Elderly people, especially women are increasingly accused of witchcraft and are killed for it. More often than not, these accusations come from family members of the accused.

Some of these accused people have not left their houses in years for fear of being killed, while others cannot go far because of the same fear. In general, people who have been victims of witch-hunting live in isolation and fear of the unknown.

2. People Accused of Witchcraft Flee to Places Called Witch Camps

These are camps where people accused of witchcraft flee for safety. They emerged in the early 20th century and accused witches go there after they have been expelled from their communities following an accusation.

Tragically, the accusation can come from anybody. Someone could die in the area and fingers would point at a certain person who would then be labeled a witch.

There are at least 6 witch camps in Ghana, they are located in Bonyasi, Gambaga, Gnani, Kpatinga, Kukuo, and Naabuli. These camps are deplorable without electricity, proper housing, or health facilities.

There are hundreds of women in witch camps. Most of them are old women who cannot work or fend for themselves. They end up dying from hunger and ailments such as malaria, tuberculosis, and typhoid.

However, there are other types of sanctuaries that are dominated by an earth priest. People who have been accused of witchcraft are kept and tortured until they confess.

They serve as sites for traditional exorcisms, that involve offering sacrifices to determine the innocence or guilt of a person. Subsequently, a concoction is given to cleanse the witchcraft from a person, as it is believed that the local earth has the power to neutralize witchcraft.

Other times, they voluntarily offer themselves to be taken to jail to avoid being lynched and killed. In Bimbo, a women’s prison in Bangui, many of the detainees are voluntarily due to the accusations leveled against them.

3. Witch Doctors Kill and Mutilate Albinos for More Powers

In Tanzania, witch doctors believe that the body parts of albinos are good ingredients for making magical potions. As a result, albinos in this east African country face widespread danger.

They have been killed and dismembered and the graves of those who died from other causes have been dug up and desecrated. According to superstition, their limbs, bones, skin, and internal organs can be used in creating charms, potions, amulets, and concoctions that are speculated to bring good fortune, wealth, and supernatural powers to their users.

Most of these attacks take place in rural areas because it is believed that albinos disappear, so it is usually assumed that they have disappeared and no one questions their whereabouts.

This might seem like a thing of the past before civilization came to the country, but it is not. As recently as 2021, the killing of four albinos was reported and some corpses of this endangered set of people were exhumed and mutilated.

4. Some People Accused of Witchcraft are Burned to Death

A 72-year-old woman was lynched and burned to death in Ghana in 2010. She was suspected to have been a witch and was said to have fallen from the sky after her witch-flying gas ran out. Medical experts claimed that the old woman might have been suffering from dementia and her behavior was mistaken for being a witch.

Similarly, 5 of  7 people accused of witchcraft were burned to death in Tanzania, in 2014, by villagers. The other 2 were hacked to death with machetes. Additionally, 8 women were also burned to death in the Democratic Republic of Congo, after being accused of witchcraft.

Other parts of Africa where people have been burned to death because of an accusation that might be considered baseless or sentimental include the Central African Republic, Nigeria, Kenya, and Sierra Leone.

See Also: 10 Shocking Beauty Practices Across Africa

5. “Witches” Were Forced to Drink Magical Potions by The Government

Amnesty International reported that up to 1,000 Gambians were killed after being forced to drink a poisonous substance at gunpoint by the government of the day. The former president of Gambia, Yahya Jammeh, ordered the arrest and detention of witches. He employed the services of witch doctors who carried out this exercise.

The victims were taken to secret detention centers, where they were stripped naked, beaten, and pressured into confessing to committing murders through witchcraft. They were then forced to drink a herbal concoction that had hallucinating capabilities. Some of the victims died from the torture and others from the concoction.

Others who managed to survive are living with the after-effects which include anxiety and depression caused by post-traumatic stress disorder.

6. Some Witches Were Tasked with National Security

While some presidents are executing alleged witches in their countries, some are making use of them and the power they possess for the good of their countries.

Cameroonian president, Paul Biya, called for the help of Cameroonian witches to join the fight against Boko Haram. Biya said he wanted to hear that Cameroonian villages wiped out or limited the sect’s influence through witchcraft.

This was born out of desperation, after the terrorist group continued to carry out attacks, killing the people of his country. As a result of his request, hundreds of militia fighters sought help from sorcerers, to obtain lucky charms and talismans for their protection in battle.

7. People Are Sometimes Accused of Witchcraft in Order to Avoid Paying Debts

In some parts of Africa, people are accused of witchcraft by their debtors to avoid paying what they owe. In 2012, a woman was accused of being a witch by her debtor. She was said to have made a family member sick. It was revealed that the sick girl saw her in a dream.

However, the accused revealed that the man owed her some amount of money which she has been asking him to repay but he has refused. She added that his accusation was only to get rid of her from the community and erase his debt alongside.

8. The Position of A Dying Chicken Reveals if the Accused is Guilty or Not

In Ghana, after a  person is accused of being a witch, he/she is taken to a shrine for confirmation of whether or not the accusation is true. The person who does the ritual is called the Tindana.

Two chickens are provided for the ritual, one white, and the other,  multicolored. It is believed that if the chicken dies facing the sky,  the person is innocent but if it dies facing the ground a person is guilty.

After the confirmation of the innocence of a person, a cleansing ritual is carried out on the guilty. The Tindana would take the feathers of the slaughtered chickens, and their intestines and place them on stones that represent the shrine spirits. He then dips the knife he used in slaughtering the chicken and dips it in “shrine water”, from which the accused is made to drink.

This ritual signifies the cleansing of a person from witchcraft. But are they really free?

9. After Cleansing, Some Alleged Witches are not Allowed to Go Back to Their Communities

After the ritual is performed, it is expected that the accused would be allowed to go back to their families and be reintegrated into the community, but that is not usually the case.

These former witches are not allowed to go back to their families immediately after the ritual, sometimes it might take from weeks to months, and other times, they might never return to their homes. Instead, they go to live in the witch camps until they die.

10. People go into Witchcraft for Wealth Acquisition

In Nigeria, the rate of witchcraft is steadily on the increase as the youth of the country go into it for the purpose of getting rich quickly. These young people go to different lengths just to get rich. Money gotten from these occultic means is called blood money. In Igbo, it is called “Ego Obala”.

In 2021, 3 teenagers were arrested after they confessed to the killing, mutilation, and desecration of a young girl. Similarly, a mother confessed to killing her child as instructed by a witch doctor, in order to make money.

These are just but a few episodes as it has become a national problem. However, security operatives have been trying to fish out these people and they have identified hotspots where most of these activities take place.

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